Sunday, November 07, 2010

VeganMoFo: Haitian Banana-Lime VooDoo Tofu

From yesterday's meal in Cuba we'll take a quick little trip over to Haiti, for a Haitian meal. I got a bunch of international cookbooks out from the library (you should see the piles of cookbooks on my dining room table!)... including one called "Caribbean Light." Flipping through it, I couldn't help but notice "Haitian Banana-Lime VooDoo Chicken." I was pretty much seduced by that excellent name. Well, a few days later, take out the chicken, add in some tofu & you've got:

VooDooToFu!

Like I said, this recipe was originally for a whole stuffed chicken, but you already know that ain't gonna happen. Not in my kitchen! So, I took the stuffing and marinade recipes and turned it into stuffed tofu pockets!

The stuffing has chorizo sausage, lime juice, bread cubes, minced banana, rum, brown sugar ... and probably some other things too, all cooked together to make a stuffing. I thought it sounded pretty exciting... but unfortunately it really wasn't much of a home run. It turned out to be a lot of strong flavors competing with each other with a not-too-harmonious result. Mr. Vegan Eats & Treats decided to go back to the fridge for leftovers (ouch!), and after just one tofu pocket I turned my attention to the giant bowl of steamed green beans. Now I've got 4 more of these bad boys in my fridge. They're not so bad that I won't make my way through them, but this meal was definitely one of our first misses on our around-the-world culinary adventure.

Plus side: I re-discovered the joy of tofu pockets. They are fun! and special! What else should we stuff in our tofu pockets??

Ok, I'm kind of obsessed with the idea of tofu pockets now. Maybe it is just as simple as it looks, but I have to ask before I attempt...can you describe the making of said pocket? Thanks! (Oh, and your drawings are adorable!)

Those illustrations are the most adorable thing ever and just inspired me to make tofu pockets! That's really too bad yours weren't as delicious as you expected, though. I wonder what other fillings would be good for tofu...

i'm sorry your stuffed 'fus were a little disappointing - they look yummy though. but i love the idea of stuffing them with all kinds of yumminesses! i'm never stuffed 'fu before and now i must, must, MUST! i think mushroom & spinach stuffed 'fu might be yummers. and might i add, i too love your drawings, Amey! they are simply the best (and the cutest ever. i can't help but smile when i see them.)!

I, too, was excited just by seeing the name of this dish. I'm so sorry it didn't work out to your expectations. They look great and maybe they were better on the 2nd day as all the flavors got to know each other better?